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PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
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- India’s Cumulative Vaccination Coverage exceeds 17.72 Crore
- Gap between two doses of Covishield Vaccine extended to 12-16 weeks from 6-8 weeks based on recommendation of COVID Working Group
- More than Half a Crore patients served by the National Telemedicine Service  during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- DCGI approves Phase II/III clinical trial of COVAXIN in the age group of 2 to 18 Years
- Oxygen Expresses deliver more than 7115 MT of Medical Oxygen to the nation
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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
India’s Cumulative Vaccination Coverage exceeds 17.72 Crore
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4,31,285 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine in the last 24 hours and cumulatively 34,80,618 across 30 States/UTs since the start of phase-3 of vaccination drive. Table below shows the cumulative vaccine doses administered to 18-44 years age group till now.
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India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,97,34,823 today. The National Recovery Rate is 83.26%.
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The National Mortality Rate currently stands at 1.09%.
For Details : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718217
More than Half a Crore patients served by the National Telemedicine Service  during the COVID-19Pandemic
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Daily, over 1500 doctors serve patients remotely through eSanjeevani telemedicine platform
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Few States working towards rolling out special Home Isolation OPDs wherein patients can be screened remotely for COVID-19 by final year MBBS students
For Details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718221
DCGI approves Phase II/III clinical trial of COVAXIN in the age group of 2 to 18 Years
The National Regulator of the country, the Drugs Controller General of India , after careful examination, has accepted the recommendation of Subject Expert Committee  and accorded permission to conduct the Phase II/III clinical trial of Covaxin  in the age group 2 to 18 years, to its manufacturer Bharat Biotech Ltd on 12.05.2021.
For Details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718192
Update on Ventilators Supplied under PM CARES
“Made in India” Ventilators have strengthened Infrastructure of Hospitals for Effective COVID management. All Technical Assistance being provided by Manufacturers for their Glitch-free Operation.
For Details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718183
Gap between two doses of Covishield Vaccine extended from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on recommendation of COVID Working Group
The COVID Working Group chaired by Dr N K Arora has recommended extension of the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12-16 weeks. The present gap between the two doses of COVISHIELD vaccine is 6-8 weeks.
Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of COVISHIELD vaccine. No change in interval of COVAXIN vaccine doses was recommended.
For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718308
Update on Covid Relief Aid: Through a “Whole of Government” approach, Govt of India has expeditiously Allocated and Delivered Global Aid to States/UTs
Government of India has been receiving international donations and aid of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since 27 April 2021 from different countries/organisations to augment its efforts in fighting the unprecedented surge in COVID in the country. Through a streamlined and systematic mechanism under the “Whole of Government” approach, various Ministries/Departments of Government of India have seamlessly collaborated for expeditiously delivering the incoming global aid to States and UTs.
Cumulatively, 9,294 Oxygen Concentrators; 11,835 Oxygen Cylinders; 19 Oxygen Generation Plants; 6,439 ventilators/Bi PAP; nearly 4.22 L Remdesivir vials delivered/ dispatched through road and air, from 27th April 2021 to 12th May 2021.
For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718313
Union Government consistently and proactively working to secure and enhance the Availability of COVID Vaccines
There have been reports in a section of the media followed by some uninformed tweets alleging delay in licensing for Covaxin and delayed approval for technology transfer for manufacturing COVAXIN vaccine in the country.
These news reports and the content mentioned in the tweet are completely baseless and factually incorrect.
The Union Government is consistently and proactively working to secure and enhance the availability of vaccines. Government of India, in its new liberalized strategy, has made specific provisions that vaccines for COVID-19, which have been developed & are being manufactured in foreign countries and which have been granted emergency use authorization by National Regulators of United States, European Medicine Agency , United kingdom, Japan or which are listed in WHO , will be granted emergency use approval in India. It also provides for post-approval parallel bridging clinical trial in place of conduct of prior local clinical trial as per the provisions prescribed under Second Schedule of the New Drugs & Clinical Trials Rules 2019. This is a radical departure from past allowing rapid and simplified authorization of foreign vaccines by Drugs Controller General of India .
For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718332
Oxygen Expresses deliver more than 7115 MT of Medical Oxygen to the Nation
Indian Railways is continuing its journey of bringing relief by delivering Liquid Medical Oxygen  to various states across the country. So far, Indian Railways has delivered nearly 7115 MT of LMO in more than 444 tankers to various states across the country. Yesterday Oxygen Expresses delivered nearly 800 MT of LMO to the Nation.
For details: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718326
Bhubaneswar Airport ensures seamless delivery of medical essentials to support the fight against Covid-19
Total 156 empty oxygen tankers, 526 oxygen concentrators and 140 oxygen cylinders transported.
For Details: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718233
INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD UNITS
Maharashtra: The Maharashtra Government has extended the current Covid-19 restrictions in the state till 7am on 1st June. The state has also made a negative RT-PCR report mandatory for those entering the state. The test report will have to be issued within 48 hours before the time of entry into the state.
Maharashtra Government has temporarily suspended the vaccination drive for 18-44 age group due to shortage of vaccines. Maharashtra’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the state cabinet has decided that all the doses purchased for this age group will now be diverted for the 45 category.
Gujarat: In Gujarat, the fortnight-long “Maru Gam, Corona Mukt Gam” programme organised by the Gujarat government to control the spread of Covid-19 in the villages, has been extended for five more days till May 20. Jaydrathsinh Parmar, Minister of State for Panchayats, said a total of 15,322 Covid care centres have been set up within 14,236 gram panchayats, where 1,37,000 lakh beds have been readied to isolate and provide primary treatment for those detected with mild symptoms.
Gujarat recorded 11,017 new cases of COVID19 yesterday. Maximum 2795 new cases were reported from Ahmedabad, while Surat recorded 781 new cases. 102 patients lost their lives yesterday.
Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, the State Government has decided to import 1,00,00,000 COVID vaccine doses. The state also approved the proposals for relaxation in financial procedures for the purchase and transportation of life-saving drugs, oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment. The State Government has also started the work to develop necessary facilities in children hospitals amidst warning of the third and fourth wave.Meanwhile, a lion has tested positive for COVID-19 in Nahargarh Biological Park of Jaipur. Nahargarh Biological Park had already been closed for tourists last month.
Madhya Pradesh: In Pradesh, the number of fresh Coronavirus infections is continuously declining. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that in areas where the positivity rate has gone below five per cent, Corona curfew will be gradually lifted in the districts after 17th of May.‘Black fungal infection’ treatment units with operation theatres  will be opened in Bhopal and Jabalpur. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed that so far, 50 black fungal infection cases have come to notice in the state. The State government is also devising a preventive strategy against black fungal infection which includes measures such as rational use of steroids in COVID patients by doctors and educating patients to identify the primary signs of the disease.
Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh has launched CG Teeka web portal to enable the disadvantaged section of its population to register for Covid-19 vaccination programme through help desks, to be set up at hundreds of locations across the state.
Amid the second wave of Coronavirus infection, there have also been some cases of black fungus infection. Taking stock of these cases, the State Government has started efforts to control this disease. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed the Health Department to ensure availability of medicines needed for the treatment of Black Fungus infection in various districts after some cases of this disease came to the fore.
Goa: Following the high court directions that Covid-19 negative certificate is mandatory for all those entering the state, Goa police has strengthened its apparatus at the state’s borders to ensure that the directions are strictly complied with. In a bid to ensure that Goa Medical College gets adequate supply of oxygen, the state government has started calibrating the supply of oxygen to private hospitals and primary health centres.
Kerala:The State government is considering an extension of the lockdown as the Covid-19 numbers and test positivity rate show no signs of abating. A final decision will be made after considering the Covid-19 figures on Friday and Saturday. The Health Department and expert committee have recommended an extension of the lockdown. However, there are also suggestions that strict lockdown needs to be enforced in only areas with high TPR. The state recorded 43,520 new Covid cases yesterday. 95 new fatalities were also confirmed, mounting the death toll to 6053. TPR also increased and touched at 29.75%. Meanwhile, Id-ul-Fitr is being celebrated in the state today under strict Covid restrictions. Following appeal from religious leaders, faithful offered their Eid prayers at home. So far, a total of 82,00,528 people has taken vaccine in the state. 62,62,809 took first dose and 19,37,719 people had their second dose.
Tamil Nadu: Chief Minster MK Stalin, on Thursday, wrote a letter to PM seeking suspension of GST for Covid drugs and vaccines. Chief Minister further urged the centre to relax the debt-to-GDP ratio of state governments from 3% to 4% to enable state governments to obtain debt in such difficult times. An all-party meeting chaired by CM is being held today to discuss the steps to be taken to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. Vedanta Ltd owned Sterlite Copper has commenced production of medical oxygen at its facility in Tamil Nadu and the first batch of 'medical grade oxygen' was dispatched today. The first Oxygen Express for Tamil Nadu from Indian Railways carrying 80 metric tonnes  of liquid medical oxygen  on Wednesday left from Durgapur railway station in West Bengal. Following submission by the Centre that over a lakh oxygen generator, developed by DRDO, has been sanctioned under the PM Cares Fund for installation, the Madras High Court on Wednesday sought the Tamil Nadu Government to immediately seek for such installation to augur the growing oxygen demand in the State. TN recorded 30,355 new COVID-19 cases in the single biggest day spike so far on Wednesday, pushing the caseload to 14,68,864 while 293 deaths in the last 24 hours took the toll to 16,471 and 1,72,735 active cases. Till date 67,38,923 have been vaccinated across the State, of which 49,37,244 received first dose and 18,01,679 received second dose.
Karnataka:New Cases Reported: 39998; Total Active Cases: 592182; New Covid Deaths: 517; Total Covid Deaths: 20368. Around 88,437 were vaccinated yesterday with a total of 1,08,82,080 have been vaccinated in the state till now. Due to inadequate supply and lack of inventory, the state government has decided to discontinue vaccination for those in the age group of 18-44 years, decided to give second dose on top priority to 45-year-old. The central government has told the High Court that the quantity of Remdisivir supplied to the state has been increased to 5.75 lakh.
Andhra Pradesh:State reported 21,452 new Covid-19 cases after testing 90,750 samples with 89 deaths, while 19,095 got discharged during the last 24 hours. Total cases: 13,44,386; Active cases: 1,97,370; Discharges: 11,38,028; Deaths: 8988. A total of 73,73,521 doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the state as on yesterday, which include 53,30,276 first doses and 20,43,245 second doses. State Health Minister said that the oxygen capacity will be increased from present 517 MT to 600 MT. Besides, monitoring cells will be set up to prevent wastage of oxygen. He said task force committees were formed to prevent black marketing of Remdesivir injections. Meanwhile, restrictions were lifted for the ambulances coming from Andhra Pradesh into Telangana at check post at Ramapuram crossroad in Kodad mandal after High Court gave directions to Telangana government.
Telangana:State–level Task Force on Covid headed by State Minister for Industries Shri K.T.Rama Rao held its first meeting on Wednesday and decided to procure Covid-related medicines and other medical equipment required in Govt hospitals for next three months. During a video conference with Union Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan yesterday, State Finance Minister Shri T. Harish Rao requested the Central Government to enhance the supply of vaccine doses and other essentials required for treating the Covid-19 patients. Meanwhile, the State reported 4,723 new Covid infections and 31 fatalities yesterday taking the death toll to 2,834 and the total caseload to 5,11,711. The number of active cases in Telangana now stands at 59,133.
Assam:The Assam government on Wednesday ordered shutting of all offices, religious places and weekly markets for 15 days in urban and semi-urban areas of the state, besides banning the movement of people from 2 pm to 5 am in the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases. Issuing a new set of guidelines for the urban and semi-urban places in the periphery of 5 km of municipal areas, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua said all standalone shops and commercial establishments shall shut down at 1 pm on all days. 71 people died of COVID-19 in the State on Wednesday when 5,657 new positive cases were reported. In Kamrup  1,456 cases were reported. The COVID-19 positivity rate in the State is 8.8 percent. The State Health department, like in other states, is planning to prioritize the second dose beneficiaries in order to ensure that they get the second jab on time.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday assigned specific districts to the ministers of his Cabinet to monitor the COVID-19 situation and ensure necessary guidance to administration of the respective districts.
Manipur:Manipur records 666 cases, 17 deaths in last 24 hours.
One of the main reasons for the spike in the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the last few days is late admission of patients in hospitals, said Dr Nepram Sanjib, Deputy Medical Superintendent of RIMS, Imphal.The cumulative number of people who have been vaccinated in the state reached 2,82,958.
Meghalaya:Meghalaya continued to report over 400 fresh cases for the fourth straight day on Wednesday while eight more fatalities on the day pushed the death toll to 250.The state also recorded 314 recoveries taking the number of people discharged to 17,354.The Meghalaya government is unhappy with the poor response to the COVID vaccination drive for people over 45 years of age.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters after a review meeting Wednesday that the vaccination coverage for the targeted group stands at a mere 37-38%.
Sikkim: Sikkim High Court has pulled up the State Government for inadequate Covid care facility in hospitals. The State has now lost 183 lives to Covid..
Tripura:2 deaths and 416 new infections with west Tripura district reporting 238 positive cases in the state. State government has decided to to give free rations to the people living in the Containment Zone. Meanwhile 18 plus vaccination to start from today in the state with 15150 doses of Covaxin reaching the state.
Nagaland:Nagaland registers highest single day spike of 338 new cases and 9 deaths on Wednesday. Active cases are 3297 while tally goes up to 16,890.
Summer break of both govt and private schools extended till May 21. School Education Dept order says decision taken in view of the current pandemic situation.
Regional Ayurveda Centre, Dimapur begins distribution of AYUSH 64 tablets to Covid patients under home isolation. Distribution will continue for 20 days.
Punjab: The total number of patients tested Positive is 467539. Number of active cases is 79963. Total Deaths reported is 11111. Total COVID-19 Vaccinated with 1st dose  is 806082. Total COVID-19 Vaccinated with 2nd dose  is 235646. Total above 45 Vaccinated with 1st dose is 2570979. Total above 45 Vaccinated with 2nd dose is 417899.
Haryana: Total Number of Samples found positive till date is 652742. Total active COVID-19 patients are 107058. Number of deaths is 6075. Cumulative number of people vaccinated till date is 4658366.
Chandigarh: Total Lab confirmed COVID-19 cases are 52633. Total number of Active Cases is 8528. Total number of COVID-19 deaths till date is 599.
Himachal Pradesh: Total number of patients tested COVID positive till date is 145736. Total number of Active Cases is 38954. Total deaths reported till date is 2055.
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